Obedience to the Ordinances of the Gospel PART 1

I once had a conversation with a good friend and co-worker of mine who belongs to another faith. We were on a business trip together in San Fransisco.

Our schedule allowed for a little time to go see some sites so we went down to Fishermans Warf. While eating lunch, we got into a conversation about how exactly one is saved.

I wanted to make sure that he understood that as Mormons we believe that it is the Savior Jesus Christ that saves us and not by our own power. While our works are necessary, they are not sufficient to save us. It is His grace that saves us after all that we can do.

He asked me a question that I think would be great to talk about here.

His question was "If you are saved by Jesus Christ, why do you have all of those ordinances in your church, including the temple ordinances?"

I think he asked this question because many people today believe that baptism (or anything else we do for that matter) is not required for our salvation. Some believe it's Jesus that saves us and we are incapable of doing anything good on our own. Therefore, works such as ordinances are not required in their minds.

Latter-day Saints on the other hand do not believe that people are totally depraved and unable to choose anything good on our own. In contrast, we believe that God has given each person the ability to choose good or evil for ourselves.

We have inherited a fallen nature from father Adam that made us subject to all of the mortal appetites and tempatations, but we have also inherited a divine nature through the Father of our

Spirits, our Heavenly Father. These two "natures" tug and pull against each other and help us to comprehend both the evil and the good.

Latter-day Saints believe that people can choose to do good. This is why our good works are necessary for our salvation. They are necessary but not sufficient. This is because each of us still fall short and many times choose evil over good. The goal then is to put off the natural, carnal, and fallen man and become a saint through the merits of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Latter-day Saints are not only interested in being saved. They are interested in being changed, or becoming a new creature in Christ Jesus.

The big question for the true Christian is not if Jesus' grace is sufficient to save us, but rather, how do we get access to His grace? Because if we have Jesus' grace, we know we have salvation.

The ordinances act as a covenant or contract that binds us to Him.

The ordinances of the gospel make us partners with Jesus in the process of our salvation.

A covenant is a most solemn promise made between God and man. Both God and man make special promises towards each other.

In the case of baptism, we promise to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ, keep His commandments, and serve Him to the end. Mosiah 18:8–10; D&C 20:37) In turn, God promises

to forgive us of our sins through the atonement of Jesus Christ, spiritual rebirth, the companionship of the Holy Ghost, and eternal life.

Like baptism, each ordinance of the gospel, including the temple ordinances, is an outward expression of a sacred covanant.

The ordinances are also evidence of our faith.

James said that faith without works is dead. True faith in Jesus Christ will always manifest works meet for repentance.

The ordinances also act as powerful symbols to remind us of the covenants we have made.

The saving ordinances of the gospel are symbolic in nature. For example, when one is baptized it is a representation of the old natural man dying and being buried.

Paul said:

Col 2:12

12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

Another symbol associated with baptism is birth of the new, faithful and holy man. During birth there is water, blood and Spirit. During Baptism there is water, the blood of Christ, and the Spirit of the Holy Ghost that is given which is called the baptism of fire, or the Gift of the Holy Ghost. (2 Nephi 31:17)

It also symbolizes the washing away of all your sins. (Acts 22:16)

We participate in the ordinances of the gospel to follow the example set forth by Jesus Christ:

The Book of Mormon prophet Nephi said it best:

2 Nephi 31:6-10,17-21

6 And now, I would ask of you, my beloved brethren, wherein the Lamb of God did fulfil all righteousness in being baptized by water?

7 Know ye not that he was holy? But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments.

Nephi shows here that Jesus had no need to be baptized for forgiveness of sins, because he had no sin, however he still was baptized as a witness that he would be obedient to all of the Father's commandments. This also shows that Baptism, is a commandment of the Father.

8 Wherefore, after he was baptized with water the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove.

9 And again, it showeth unto the children of men the straitness of the path, and the narrowness of the gate, by which they should enter, he having set the example before them.

10 And he said unto the children of men: Follow thou me. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father?

Nephi makes it clear that the gate by which we enter the kingdom of God is Baptism. And Jesus set an example for us by being baptised. Also, Nephi shows us that it is impossible to follow Jesus unless we are willing to keep the commandments. We may not be perfect in our attempt, but we are willing. Picking up in verse 17 it says:

17 Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.

18 And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son;

and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive.

19 And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by

the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.

20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

21 And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is fone God, without end. Amen.

Nephi has taught us that it is impossible to follow Jesus, without keeping His commandments. He has also taught that one of those commandments is to be baptized.

Jesus himself taught this when he said:

John 3: 5

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be ^aborn of ^bwater and of the ^cSpirit, he cannot ^denter into the kingdom of God.

Baptism and the receiving of the Holy Ghost are the gateway ordinances of the gospel, but after we have received these ordinances, there is more. These ordinances are designed to help us change and become holy, sanctified, and fit for the kingdom.

But just like we can't keep the commandments or repent without the help and grace of the Savior, each ordinance is powerless to save and change us without His power.

This topic is way too big for one post. So I will explore it more in my next few posts.

If you would like to follow the example of Jesus and be baptized, please contact missionaries today:

Click here for Missionaries